Archive for the 'Places to go' Category

Impressing Cabo da Roca, ‘where the land ends and the sea begins’ (a quote from Camões, Portugal’s Prince of Poets)

If your Portugal vacation takes you to Lisbon, don’t miss Cabo da Roca (Roca’s Cape), in the municipality of Sintra, 40 km from Lisbon. The magical atmosphere of the westernmost point of mainland Europe (at 9° 29.8′ W), the nearest point between the European Continent and the USA, is really worth a visit! In summertime there’s lots […]

Mouraria, home of fado music & Amália Rodrigues, ‘Lady of Lisbon, Queen of Fado’

No neighborhood in Lisbon is praised more in Fado music than Mouraria.

Mouraria, Calçada de Santo André. This ‘Bairro‘ (neighborhood) is a maze of little, narrow streets, situated between Graça, Alfama and Costa de Castelo, given it’s name by the first Portugese king, Dom Afonso Henriques (1109 - 1185) , after Lisbon was taken over again by […]

Lisbon people: designer Alberto Gourgel & Feira da Ladra, Lisbon’s famous flee market

Designer Alberto Gourgel was born in Angola, a Portuguese colony from the 16th century to 1975. ” I studied in a boarding school in Angola, but due to economical problems my brother and I moved to Lisbon in 1983. Being a kid, I already had creative ideas”.

Market ‘A Feira da Ladra’ (Lisbon’s flea market). Alberto Gourgel and his old-fashioned […]

Calçada do Duque from Bairro Alto down to Rossio: hundreds of stairs, restaurants & sex shops

From Bairro Alto you can walk to Rossio, stairs leading you down from Calçada do Duque starting in Rua Nova da Trindade, near a sex shop.

Rua Nova da Trindade, near Bairro Alto

Calçada do Duque is a street made of hundreds of stairs, lined with lots of traditional Portuguese restaurants (not cheap). Background: Saint George’s Castle (Castelo de […]

Lisbon’s Botanical Garden (Jardim Botânico), one of Europe’s finest

Tucked away in the Principe Real dictrict, near the Bairro Alto, the Botanical Garden is a lush retreat from the afternoon sun. It covers an area of extending uphill from the Rua da Escola Politécnica to the Avenida da Liberdade.
The University of Lisbon Botanical Garden was designed as a scientific garden, planting began in 1873 […]

Lisbon Walker: guided walks through historical Lisbon

Lisbon has steadily built up an image of one of the world’s most interesting cities to visit. Its stunning location and historic significance is generously complemented by remarkable aesthetics, making it stand out as one of the few capital cities still human in pace and in scale.

To discover Lisbon in the company of friendly and […]

The Lisbon Zoo, unforgettable education & entertainment

Located in the city center, the Lisbon Zoo (Jardim Zoológico) has one of the best zoological collections in the world: more than 2.000 animals and 350 different species approximately, lodged in areas increasingly similar to their natural habitats.

The Lisbon Zoo main entrance is located at the Praça Marechal Humberto Delgado, Sete-Rios, Benfica, open every day from […]

Walking around: unique Lisbon Baixa area, despotic Marquis of Pombal & scissors-grinders

The Baixa Pombalina is an elegant district, with beautiful buildings. The area is primarily constructed after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. It takes its name from Marquis of Pombal, the Prime Minister to Joseph I of Portugal from 1750 to 1777. Pombal, who kept calm during and after the big earthquake in 1755, renovated the city. He had […]

Lisbon shopping: postcards, stamps & jackpot queen Leonor in Rossio

After buying postcards in Lisbons’ touristical shops or kiosks in Rossio, you need stamps (selos) to send them to your friends or family. ‘Very sorry, no stamps’ (‘Desculpa, não selos’).  

Rossio: a traditional meeting point both for Lisboetas (locals) and visitors.

Besides, Rossio near Restauradores: Portuguese like to drink a ‘Ginjinha’, a liqueur made of berries.

For stamps friendly Portuguese shopowners will explain you […]

Famous Cafe ‘A Brasileira’, Rua Garrett: bad service and inattentive staff

Elegant shopping street Rua Garrett, that leads from the Baixa to Chiado, is named after the author and poet Joao Almedia Garrett (1799-1854). The area is also an important cultural area, with several museums and theatres.

Rua Garett, June 2008. On the background cafe ‘A Brasileira’ terrace. You will see young locals here just socialising or window shopping.

The most famous street of Lisbon, […]